PAU WOULD SOON GENERATE NANO-TECHNOLOGIES OF USE IN AGRICULTURE AND OTHER AREAS: DR KANG

LUDHIANA, MARCH 12:



\'Knowing is not enough, we must apply\', said the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang while giving remarks in the concluding session of the one-week advance training on 'Nanotechnology: opportunities and applications in veterinary sciences,' that concluded at PAU, today. He wished that the participants would find the experience gained from the training rewarding and useful and that hailing from different organizations; the participants would maintain the post-training inter-institutional linkages. Dr Kang added that PAU is one of the few agricultural universities in the country having the nano-science and electron microscopy state-of-the-art facilities. He said that from the available nano-science facilities PAU would soon generate practicable nano-technologies of use in agriculture and other areas. He remarked that the most conspicuous feature of nanotechnology was that it has broken usual barriers of disciplines. It provides tools and technology platforms for the study and transformation of biological systems. Mentioning that nanotechnology in veterinary sciences is going to reform the diagnostics and research, Dr Kang added that with the help of elegant delivery systems, judicious use of drugs through molecular coded address labels would be possible.



Dr Kang said that there were many agricultural areas including genotype-gene studies, crop nutrition, disease diagnostics, etc. where nanotechnology can find gainful application. With globalized economy, the nanotech products are running commercial worth over a trillion of dollars and hoped that India\'s share can be significant in it, said Dr Kang. Tracing the sequence of steps leading to ushering in of Green Revolution in the country, Dr Kang said that the burgeoning population, with about 15 million new mouths being added to the existing population every year, the food grain production (FGP) demand will increase from the FGP oscillating around 234 million tons (mt) during the past decade, to 276 mt by the year 2021 and to over 450 mt by 2050. This scenario, he said would necessitate efforts toward making the country self sufficient. For this objective the expertise involving biotechnology and nanotechnologies would be helpful, said Dr Kang. He delivered certificates to the participants of the training. Dr Kang released a compendium of deliberations made by experts which was distributed among the trainees.



Dr (Mrs) Neeta, D. Kang, Head of Innovation, Betty Cowan Research & Innovation Center, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, and Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Additional Director Communication of PAU were the Guests of Honour. Present among others were Dr Pushpinder Singh Aulakh, PAU Director Student\'s Welfare, Heads of PAU Department namely, Dr M.S.Gill (Plant Breeding and Genetics),Dr(Mrs) R.K. Dhaliwal ( Extension Education), Dr T.S.Thind ( Plant Pathology), and faculty members and researchers.



Giving an overview of the programme, the Dean College of Agriculture, Dr D.S. Cheema said that the experts from Electron Microscopy and Nanoscience (EMN) Laboratory of PAU, CMC Hospital, Medicity Hospital and National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, through their deliberations, equipped the trainees with the in-depth knowledge of various facets of nanotechnology. The training involved the participation of ten veterinarians from various parts of the country.



Dr (Mrs) Kang discussed the use of nano-particles in delivery of chemotherapeutics and radio-sensitizing and highlighted that environment impact of nano-particles needs to be studied.



Dr. Dhiman said, "In relatively a shorter period, PAU has carved out for it an admirable niche by establishing the high-tech research facilities for nanotechnology and through providing high resolution imaging service to researchers and students of different organizations, universities, institutions, and industries across the nation.



Giving his reflections about the training, Dr H.K. Muniyellappa said that the participants could learn about the protocols, sample processing tools and how to ensure the safety from hazardous chemicals. Working on sophisticated apparatus and equipments was a memorable experience for him, he said. Another participant from Hisar, Dr (Ms) Anju Manuja said that the duration of practical training programme like the present one, should be longer.



Dr S.S. Mukhopadhyay, the In charge of the EMN Lab, proposed vote of thanks to the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, Experts who delivered lectures, Heads of Department of PAU, trainees and all those associated with the programme.
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